(04/117) Trenton -- The New Jersey Department
of Environmental Protection (DEP), New Jersey Attorney General's
Office, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S.
Department of Justice (DOJ) today announced a Clean Air
Act settlement for CITGO Petroleum Corporation's Paulsboro
facility. The settlement calls for emission reductions of
air pollutants as well as a $100,000 penalty to be paid
to New Jersey.

"This settlement with CITGO will reduce emissions
of harmful, smog-causing pollutants and sends another clear
message to polluters to clean up their act," said DEP
Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell. "Once again, the
McGreevey Administration remains fundamentally committed
to protecting public health and the environment in New Jersey."

"This settlement will require CITGO to substantially
reduce its emissions of air pollutants that aggravate childhood
asthma and contribute to serious respiratory ailments among
the elderly," said New Jersey Attorney General Peter
C. Harvey. "Our fight for the environment is making
a real difference in the health and quality of life of New
Jersey residents."

Under the settlement, CITGO's asphalt refinery in Paulsboro
will reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by approximately
18 tons per year, as well as implement an enhanced volatile
organic compound (VOC) leak detection and repair program
and reduce the limits on its VOC emissions. The plant will
also have to implement protocols to minimize toxic emissions
from benzene waste operations and to burn lower sulfur fuels,
which emit less sulfur dioxide and fine particles.

NOx and VOCs contribute to the formation of smog and ground-level
ozone, while benzene is an air toxic that is hazardous to
human health.

The settlement announced today was a part of a multi-state
effort by the EPA and DOJ to reduce emissions from six of
CITGO's refineries in five states: New Jersey, Georgia,
Illinois, Louisiana and Texas. New Jersey's DEP and Attorney
General's Office joined the EPA and DOJ in this enforcement
action. The settlement resolves an outstanding suit over
CITGO's failure to follow the New Source Review rules of
the Clean Air Act, which require facilities to install air
pollution control technology when they make significant
upgrades to a facility.

Today's consent decree was filed in U.S. District Court
in Houston, Texas and calls for CITGO to spend an estimated
$320 million to upgrade its refineries; it is subject to
a public comment period and final court approval.